Shaking apparatus



April 26, 1932. E. H. FISHER 1,855,909

SHAKING APPARATUS Filed April 16, 1931 ZZMx/Z;

WITNESSES INVENT'OR L Patented Apr. 26, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEEDWIN I-I. FISHER, or rIT sBUBGTI, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR ToFISHER'SGIENTIFIG coivrrANY,or PITTSBURGH, PE NSYLVANIA, A CORPORATIONor PENNSYLVANIA SHAKING APPARATUS Application filed Aprillfi, 1931.Serial No. 530,710.

This invention relates to shaking machines, and especially to laboratoryapparatus of this type.

The objects of the invention are to provide oscillatory shakingapparatus which is adaptadjustable to accommodate flasks of varioussizes, and means for oscillating the clamp and its retained container.The degree of agitation of the liquid in the container will depend H inpart upon the contour of the container, the level of the liquid, and itsviscosity and content of solid matter. In order to compensate for theseand other factors, and to control the type and degree of agitation,means are provided for varying the radius of oscillation of thecontainer, and preferably also the amplitude of oscillation.

Having reference to the drawings, the apparatus shown comprises a rockershaft 1 W ournalled in a bearing 2 rigidly supported in a frameindicated generally by the numeral 8. Shaft 1 is oscillated by anysuitable means, for example through a connecting rod 4 actuated by acrank 5 connected to a pinion 6 which meshes with a gear 7 mounted onshaft 8 of a motor 9.

The liquid to be shaken is contained in a flask 10 supported in acontainer clamp carried by shaft 1 and provided with upper flaskgrippingand lower flask-supporting members. The apparatus shown is provided withtwo clamps each adapted to carry two flasks. Each clamp comprises avertically disposed rod 11 connected to shaft 1 and provided at N itsupper and lower ends with bifurcated brackets 12 and 13, respectively.Connected to the arms of bracket 12 are gripping members 14, such asspring clips, adapted to en- 7 gage the neck of a container, such asflasklO.

Bracket 18 is provided with supporting members, and preferably these areinterchange able to accommodate containers having bottoms of differentshape and size. The flask support shown comprises upwardly inclinedfingers 15 radiating from a body portionre- V movably held in thebracket. This supportmg member may be adapted to hold tubes,

bottles, flasks of various contours, and the like, and for brevity ofreference allsuch containers are designated herein. as flasks.

The clamp is adjustable to accommodate flasks of Varying height. Asshown inthe drawings, bracket 13 is slidably mounted on rod 11, a setscrew 16 being provided to lockit at any desired height. In order tokeep bracket 13 from rotating when the apparatus is in use, rod 11 isprovided with a slot 17 which receives a pin 18 passed through thebracket.

In the use of the apparatus described actuation of motor 9 imparts anoscillatory motion to shaft 1 and the clamps. The flasks are thus swungbackward and forward through an arc whose amplitude depends upon thetravel of the connecting rod. Such oscillation gives a distinct shakingmotion which gives more thorough and more satisfactory agitation thanthat had with swirling motion.

In the apparatus just described the amplitude of oscillation, and hencethe travel of the clamps, is fixed. ,A particular feature of theinvention resides in the provision of means for .adapting the apparatusto varying conditions, such as varying the degree of agitation. This maybe done by varying the stroke of the connecting rod. As shown best inFig. 3, shaft 1 is provided with an arm 19 having an arcuate slot 20 inwhich a pin carried by connecting rod 4 moves. The

stroke of the connecting rod may thus be adjusted by changing thesetting of the pin in slot 20. This makes it possible to. vary theamplitude of oscillation, or are through which the flasks are swung,according to the need.

It has been found that in .some instances waves will be set up in theliquid which will tend to cause the liquid to splash from the container,and this is, of course, objectionable. This phenomenon is governed inpart by the degree of agitation, which in turn is controlled by theamplitude of oscillation and the height of liquid in the flask, orrather its distance from the axis of oscillation. This effect may becontrolled in some instances by changing the amplitude of oscillation.But such control may not be fully satisfactory for all cases, because toprevent it in this manner may necessitate reducing the degree ofagitation to an undersirable extent.

The invention further provides means for controlling the agitation toprevent splashing, by providing for adjustment of the flask to shift theradius of oscillation, i. e. the position of theliquid level withrespect to the .aXis of oscillation. To this end the clamp is adjustablevertically in shaft 1. As seen in the drawings shaft 11 is slidable in asleeve 21 formed on shaft 1, and the shaft may be locked in any desiredposition by a set screw 22.

The apparatus provided by the invention thus affords a wide variety ofoperating conditions. It is adapted to shake containers of variousshapes and sizes, and thus is adapted to substantially all laboratoryprocedure. Furthermore, it provides satisfactory agitati0n,itsadjustability to'meet all variations in liquid characteristics renderingit flexible in operation. Thus, by suitably adjusting the arc ofoscillation, or the radius of oscillation, the degree of agitation canbe varied from gentle rocking to violet agitation. At the same time alltendency to splash may be repressed similarly. These adjustments aremade conveniently and quickly, and for routine work an adjustment oncefound may be retained, asin the case of routine laboratory determinationof sulfur in steel.

.It Will be understood that the gist of the invention resides in ashaking apparatus embodying oscillably mounted container clampsadjustable not only to accommodate a wide variety of containers, butalso to alter the shaking characteristics, or character of agitationobtained. Therefore the invention is not restricted to the four-flaskembodiment shown, nor to the particular details given.

According to the provisions of the Patent Statutes, I have explained theprinciple and mode of operation of my invention, and have illustratedand described what I now consider to represent its best embodiment.However, I desire to have it understood that, within the scope of theappended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than asspecifically illustrated and described.

I claim:

1. A laboratory shaking machine comprising in combination a frame, ahorizontal rocker shaft ournalled in said frame, a clamp comprising arod carried by said shaft and adjustable vertically thereof, an upperflask-gripping member connected to said rod, and a lowerflask-supporting member slidably carried by said rod for adjustment toflasks of different heights, and means operatively connected to saidshaft to oscillate it, adjustment of said rod relative to said shaftvarying the radius of oscillation of a flask supported by the clamp.

53. A laboratory shaking machine comprising in combination a frame, ahorizontal rocker shaft j ournalled in said frame, a clamp comprising arod carried by said shaft and adjustable vertically thereof, said rodbeing provided with upper flask-gripping and lower flask-supportingmembers one of which is adjustable vertically relative to the other foradjustment to flasks of different heights, and means operativelyconnected to said shaft to oscillate it, adjustment of said rod relativeto said shaft varying the radius of oscillation of .a flask supported bythe clamp.

In testimony whereof, I sign my name.

EDWIN H. FISHER.

